Month: January 2024

Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria qualify for Cup of Nations last 16 from Group A
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Equatorial Guinea & Nigeria qualify for Cup of Nations last 16

Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea and Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the last 16 knockout stages of the 2023 Cup of Nations on Monday.

Equatorial Guinea convincingly hammered hosts Ivory Coast 4-0 with a brace from danger man Emilio Nsue, a 34-year-old right back of the Spanish 3rd Division side based in Alicante (In Photo) and a goal apiece from Pablo Ganet and Jannick Buyla at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.

As a result, Afcon 2023 hosts Ivory Coast’s chances of progressing to the knock-out phase are out of their hands as they finish third place in Group A.

The four best third-placed sides across the six groups progress to the last 16.

Nigeria, who ended second behind Equatorial Guinea, progressed after a first-half Opa Sangante own at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium.

José Peseiro’s men will face the team that finishes second in Group C on Saturday, 27 January. Group winners Equatorial Guinea is set to face a third-placed side from Group C, D, or E in the last 16 on Sunday.

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Odense Boldklub confirm striker Mohamed Turay to leave club
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Odense Boldklub confirm striker Mohamed Turay to leave

Danish top-flight football club based in Odense have confirmed Sierra Leone International is in talks with another club ahead of exiting Odense Boldklub.

The former Malmö FF attacker joined OB in May last year, on a contract until 2025 and has featured in all competitions and scored three goals.

“29-year-old Sierra Leone striker Mohamed Buya Turay is not on the training ground today as he visits a club to discuss his terms for a transfer.

“We currently have no further comment on the matter and we will communicate on our platforms should anything further happen,” OB announced on their website.

The 29-year-old striker became the top scorer in Allsvenskan with 15 goals in 2019, where he won the Swedish championship together with Djurgårdens IF.

Turay’s next move will be his eleventh professional club since his career with starting his career with Juventus IF in 2013.

Augustus Kargbo on target in Cesena's win over Pontedera
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Augustus Kargbo on target in Cesena’s win over Pontedera

Sierra Leone International Augustus Kargbo scored Cesena’s fourth in the 4-0 thrashing of Pontedera in the Italian series C on Saturday.

Kargbo, 24, recorded his fourth of the campaign in eighteen appearances this season as they secured the top spot in the promotion race.

The visitors suffered from the start as they were unable to handle the home side’s direct football. 

Cristian Shpendi scored a hat-trick, and the win was finished off by Kargbo’s goal in the 37th minute of the first half. 

In the second half, Cesena controlled position and saw their victory with no response from the Granata.

On Sunday, Cesena will travel to Ancona as they maintain their position at the summit. 

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Zambia coach Avram Grant hopeful ahead of Morocco tie
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Zambia coach Avram Grant hopeful ahead of Morocco tie

Zambia head coach Avram Grant has expressed optimism following his side’s draw against Tanzania on Sunday in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023. 

Tanzania were searching for their first Africa Cup of Nations win in 44 years but was dashed when Zambia snatched a late 1-1 Group F draw in San-Pedro.

Grant’s men scored late through Patson Daka’s header to rescue a draw against the Taifa Stars. 

“It’s a disappointing result. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy match after watching Tanzania’s match against Morocco. It’s true that we started well too but we conceded a goal quickly and that changed our tactics especially after the red card,” Grant told journalists in a post-match Interview.

“It’s difficult to play with ten players. But I’m happy with the boys’ reaction. They gave everything to come back.”

Zambia’s final group outing is against the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist and favourites Morocco on Wednesday. 

Grant believes his team will show up and deliver against the Atlas Lions. 

“We already know that Morocco is a big team but we are not afraid of them. We will play them and I hope we will put up a good performance. We will have to show character,”

“That’s what we try to do every day, get better. And on all levels. Since I have been coaching this team, we have progressed in several areas but we must continue. Even when you become champion, you have to continue to improve the team.”

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Morocco held by DR Congo in Cup of Nations encounter
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Morocco held by DR Congo in Cup of Nations encounter 

On Sunday, Les Léopards of DR Congo halted Atlas Lion’s perfect start following their 1-1 draw at the Stade Laurent Pokou in their Matchday two Africa Cup of Nations.

PSG’s defender Achraf Hakimi had given the Atlas Lions an early lead, but DR Congo rallied their equaliser through Silas Katompa Mvumpa.

Morocco came into the tie searching for their second win and took the lead just six minutes when Hakimi rifled home after being found up by Hakim Ziyech.

DR Congo was handed a lifeline when VAR awarded a penalty after a Moroccan handball in the box on 42 minutes. However, Cedric Bakambu squandered the golden opportunity to equalise.

The Leopards finally drew parity in the 76th-minutes when Silas Katompa Mvumpa converted Elia Meschack’s assist.

Despite the draw, Morocco remains top on four points, DR Congo second on two, and all still to play for in Group F.

Morocco faces Zambia next, while DR Congo tackles Tanzania in their final pool matches on Wednesday.

DR Congo striker Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who came to the Leopard’s rescue, expressed frustration in his post-match interview.

“There was room at the end for us to get all three points. We saw the Moroccans were tired and had opportunities,” Mvumpa, who was Man of the Match, told reporters.

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Ibrahim Turay scores brace in Rangers triumphs over Luawa
by David Lebbie

Ibrahim Turay scores brace in Rangers triumph over Luawa

Ibrahim Turay (IB Computer) scored twice in either half of the game as Bo Rangers extended their lead in the ongoing Leone Rock Premier League.

The reigning champions and league leaders defeated Luawa FC 3-1 at the Southern Arena on Saturday evening. Ibrahim Turay’s close-range finish gave Rangers the lead in the six-yard box through Abu Komeh’s assist before halftime.

After the recess, Amadu Mansaray doubled the home side’s advantage from a counterattack before Ibrahim Turay fired home his brace and the Rangers third of the day.

Luawa pulled back one as Mohamed Kargbo scored from the spot after they were awarded a penalty for handball by Lamin Kargbo. 

The coaching staff of Bo Rangers were in a joyous mood after winning on home ground following two weeks away from action. 

Speaking to Football Sierra Leone, Sebastian Bowles Luawa FC head Coach said, “I’m pretty ok with the effort of the boys today this is the third match in seven days lots of travelling and it’s been a hard way for us.”

He revealed, “The lack of concentration at the beginning of the second half caused them two goals- if not, the match should have ended 1-1. I am a little bit disappointed in the lack of concentration.

“Congratulations to Bo Rangers – a wonderful team and good stadium -not many teams will take a point away from Bo.”

Rangers have won two and drawn one of their last three matches (WDW) and are 1st on the log with 26 points, whilst Luawa won one and two defeats LWL) and 5th with 20 points.

Elsewhere in the league, newcomers Kholifa Star were defeated at home by Wilberforce Strikers Santawaj Bangura (60) and John Kargbo(73) scored the goals, Whilst Kabba Timbo’s goal secured a victory for Lamboi FC over Ports Authority.

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Guinea's win over Gambia delights Coach Kaba Diawara
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Guinea’s win over Gambia delights Coach Kaba Diawara

Guinea coach Kaba Diawara was delighted after his side came out with a 1-0 victory over the Gambia on Friday’s match day two Group C encounter.

The Syli national took a pivotal step towards reaching the Cup of Nations 2023 last sixteen through Mohamed Bayo’s only goal.

“This victory is payback for that previous loss, which was so hard to take,” Diawara told reporters. Winning is more important because it shows we’ve improved over two years and worked hard to get better.”

The former Guinea international felt the performance highlighted their progress despite first-half struggles.

“What didn’t go well early on was our lack of efficiency, but after changes, things improved,” analysed Diawara.

“Creating chances is the hard part, now we just need to finish them off, and that will come in time.”

Gambia head coach Tom Saintfiet, on the other hand, remains optimistic. “In the first half Guinea were stronger but in the second period we raised our level more,” the Belgian stated.

“We can still qualify with three points in our next game,” Saintfiet noted of the Scorpions boss.

Guinea still has an uphill task against already-qualified Senegal in Tuesday’s West African derby. The Gambia must defeat Cameroon and see if they will be one of the best losers to make the last 16.

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Striker Abu Kamara helps Portsmouth win over Fleetwood
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Striker Abu Kamara helps Portsmouth win over Fleetwood

Abu Kamara’s goal proved enough for Portsmouth as they see off struggling Sky Bet League One side 1-0 thanks to Kamara’s 25th-minute strike.

Sierra Leone native Abu Kamara scored midway through the first half after beating two men before firing the ball home as Pompey bounced back to winning ways.

The hard-fought 1-0 win on the Fylde coast ensured Pompey kept their position at the summit.

The forward, on loan from Norwich, turned Josh Earl and ran unchallenged at the heart of the defence before curling a fine finish beyond Jay Lynch.

Kamara, 20. Since his loan move has scored seven goals in twenty-nine appearances.

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Baghdad Bounedjah rescues Algeria against Burkina Faso
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Baghdad Bounedjah rescues Algeria against Burkina Faso

Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah scored a brace as Algeria and Burkina-Faso played to a 2-2 all draw at the Stade de Bouake in their Cup of Nations match day two on Saturday.

As a result, the Stallions remain on top of Group D on four points, followed by Algeria on two points as Angola and Mauritania face off later in the day.

Baghdad Bounedjah bundles in Algeria’s leveller in the 51st minute from close range to cancel out Mohamed Konaté’s powerful header that was allowed to stand after a VAR check.

Bertrand Isidore Traoré’s 71st-minute spot-kick looked like they were on the verge of booking their Cup of Nations’ last sixteen spot – but another goal from Baghdad Bounedjah saw both teams share the spoils.

Bounedjah’s brace keeps his side’s chances of reaching the knockout phase of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 alive.

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Cape Verde, Senegal reach the Cup of Nations last 16
by Alie Bittar @bittar32

Cape Verde, Senegal reach AFCON last 16

Senegal defeated Cameroon 3-1 to join Cape Verde as the two first nations to reach the Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast’s last sixteen.

Former Manchester United player Tiago Dias Correia, Mendes da Graça and Gonçalves Pereira de Pina were all on the scoresheet as Cape Verde recorded two straight wins to reach the Cup of Nations last sixteen from Group B.

Bebe’s long-range striker in the 32nd-minute beat Mozambique keeper Ernan Siluane as Cape Verde became the first team to book their last-16 place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny.

The Blue Sharks face the North Africans in Egypt in their final group match on Monday. A win for Egypt against Cape Verde would mean a direct qualification as group B runner-ups, with a draw even enough in the case of Ghana and Mozambique drawing as well.

In the day’s other game, Senegal defeated Cameroon 3-1 with a 16-minute opener from Ismaïla Sarr and a second-half tap from Habib Diallo, sending the holders to the round of sixteen with a game to spare at the Charles Konan Banny de Yamoussoukro.

Cameroon rallied a goal back to make the 2-1 through J. Castelletto, but a late strike for experienced Sadia Mane completed the Lions of Teranga 95th-minute stoppage time.

Guinea, who draw with Cameroon in the Group C opener, will take on the Gambia in the late evening kickoff on Friday.

Senegal’s final game is against Guinea Syli National on Tuesday.

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